Self Drive in New Zealand

The island nation of New Zealand is a paradise for
those who love their time by the wheel discovers Nausheen Tareen.

Driving in New Zealand is nothing short of
meditation. Maddening traffic does not stress you out, no one honks or
mindlessly changes lanes and despite vast stretches of empty road ahead, people
adhere to speed limits and don’t unnecessarily push the accelerator.

The comfort of the familiar right-hand drive is the
icing on the cake. All you need to do is hire a car, put it in cruise mode and
zoom off. Exploring New Zealand in rental cars — be it small wagons, campervans
or motorhomes — is actually the most popular vacation option these days. You
can sign up for a weekly or a fortnightly trip, covering either one or both of
the islands.

Explore the Region

North Island is what a postcard holiday looks like. Rolling hills, endless green farms with sheep and cattle scattered around, grazing all day and villages in between.

The roads from Auckland to Hamilton in the North
Island or from Christchurch to Queenstown in South Island are what those who
love driving dream about. A drive in the North Island is what a postcard
holiday looks like. Rolling hills, endless green farms with sheep and cattle
scattered around, grazing all day and villages in between.The landscape in South Island is different, and
arguably, even more spectacular. The hills give way to mountains dotted with
emerald lakes, the roads are narrower and steeper, and there is a nip in the
air. While we had planned to stick to the North Island for this trip, the lure
of seeing the more striking South got the better of us. We booked air tickets
from Auckland to Christchurch and rented a car at the airport. Off we went
driving down to Queenstown and surely, this was the best decision ever. We
finished the approx. eight-hour drive in 11, as we stopped at innumerable lakes
and small villages to admire the view. En route, we had some of the freshest
and most amazing meals and tasted local wines. One can either drive back from
Queenstown to Christchurch or take a flight back. We did not have much time,
but if one does, it is definitely worth driving up the South Island – towards
the wine region of Marlborough.

Enjoy the Drive

The roads from Auckland to Hamilton in the North Island or from Christchurch to Queenstown in South Island are what those who love driving dream about.

If you are in a group, opting for a self-drive is
the most economical mode of travel. It’s cheaper than even buses or trains.
However, if you are driving within the cities, it is important to know the
dedicated parking spaces and pay the charges beforehand to avoid ending up with
a fine. Inside the city, it is best advised to walk, get a cab or opt for
public transport as most places are close by. For us though, we couldn’t have
enough of driving and were at the wheel to head to even the nearby grocery
stores in Auckland.We cancelled most of our pick-ups and actually drove
down everywhere from Bay of Islands up north in North Island, the gorgeous
Ninety Mile beach on the far north western coast or to Rotorua towards south of
Auckland. It was actually handy having a car as one could stop anywhere, try
new things or simply soak in the abundant marvels of nature.

Tips for stress free self-drive

1.If you are in a group, opting for a self-drive is
the most economical mode of travel. It’s cheaper than even buses or trains.
Book online in advance. On the spot booking can be expensive and you may not
get a car of your choice.

2. Check websites for rental cars for deals of the
day as some cars are available for as low as NZ$32 or Rs 1,500 onwards per day.
Longer duration bookings for 7 days and above are are always cheaper than
booking for a day or two.

3. Carry an Indian driving license along and do specify
at the time of booking who all among your group will be driving.